Seattle Transit Hikers

The Transit Hikers have stopped at Thai Siam restaurant for lunch several times, but, sadly, they will be closing at the end of the month -- their landlord will be selling the property. Thai Siam opened 38 years ago, and has been a valued fixture of the community. We will be sad to lose them, and would like to make one last visit, in case they do not find a new location.

We can end up at the restaurant after a walk through Carkeek Park, nearby neighborhoods, and a visit to the North Beach Natural Area, to see how the trails there are coming along.

We'll start from the Piper's Creek trailhead, loop around the north side of Carkeek, tag the beach, then turn south and head out via the Mary Ave trail. From there, we'll take neighborhood streets with occasional views of Lake Washington. We'll dip into the North Beach Natural Area. When we were there a little over a year ago, the trail petered out about half-way through the area -- let's see if there are changes.

We should arrive at the restaurant at about lunch time. Depending on the size of the group, we can split into table-sized subgroups, and call ahead for reservations.

After lunch, folks can leave directly from the restaurant, or walk back to the starting point, or hop on a bus back.

The hike through Carkeek to the restaurant is a little under 6 miles, 1000 ft elevation gain. A walk by the most direct route back to the start is about 1.5 flat miles.

This is our approximate route: https://maps.app.goo.gl/SpKrusSf9GDKQ2rr8

Logistics:

Meet at the Piper's Creek trailhead. Google Maps calls this the "Carkeek Park Eddie McAbee Entrance". This is at the north end of a little stub of 6th Ave NW, off of NW 100th Place, which is north of the QFC parking lot.

Drivers: Beware parking time limits on 6th Ave NW. Arrive early enough to find parking.

Bus riders: Nearby bus routes include 5, 28, 40, D Line.

Bring water. This includes actual trail, so footwear with good traction is appropriate. The North Beach Natural Area trail had some squishy bits last time, but rain is not forecast (so far). We'll avoid excessive squishiness.

More information:

Thai Siam restaurant: https://www.thaisiamrestaurant.com/

Article about the impending closure: https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle-thai-siam-restaurant-closing-after-38-year/281-19e1c047-14fb-48a1-af24-fd504262b087

North Beach Park and Natural Area: https://www.seattle.gov/parks/allparks/north-beach-park

Map of trails there: https://www.openstreetmap.org/relation/13153167#map=17/47.695143/-122.389691&layers=C

Friends of North Beach Park: https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfNorthBeachPark/

Today, we will learn how to hike Mt. Si using the regular transit system, without the Trailhead Direct. Compared to Trailhead Direct, the trip takes a bit longer, but it's available all year round, plus we get to walk an additional "trail to the trail" that the Trailhead Direct bus skips over.

We will meet at the corner of Rainier and Sunset, in front of Issaquah City Hall, and walk together two blocks to the bus stop to catch route 208 to North Bend. After getting off the bus, we will walk the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, followed by a short stretch of road, to the Little Si trailhead. From there, we will take the old trail up to the top of the mountain, then repeat everything in reverse to go back.

Schedule:
Meet in front of Issaquah City hall - 8:55 AM
Start walking to bus stop - 9:00 AM
Bus 208 departs - 9:10 AM
Arrive North Bend - 9:45 AM
Arrive Little Si trailhead - 10:30 AM
Begin ascent - 10:40 AM
Arrive viewpoint for lunch break - 1:00 PM
Begin descent - 1:45 PM
Arrive Little Si trailhead - 3:30 PM
Arrive North Bend - 4:15 PM
Bus departs - 4:45 PM
Return to Issaquah - 5:15 PM

Because route 208 runs only approximately every two hours, we do ask that participants only sign up if capable of following the above schedule. If you want to hike Mt. Si at a slower pace, we will have other Mt. Si. hikes later in the season, once Trailhead Direct starts running.

Details about the pace:
- The walk from the bus stop to the Little Si Trailhead is 2 miles one way, and nearly flat. The schedule assumes a 3 mph walking pace for this section.
- The schedule allows for a 10-minute pause at the Little Si trailhead to use the restroom.
- From the Little Si Trailhead to the viewpoint is 3.5 miles of uphill trail, gaining approximately 3,800 feet of elevation gain. You should be able to complete this in 2.5 hours, which works out to an average pace of 1.4 mph. This pace requires steady progress, but is slow enough to hike comfortably and have a conversation while walking. (The old and new trails are similar enough that if you have hiked the new trail in 2.5 hours or less, you are good to go).
- The schedule allows for 45 minutes of break time at the viewpoint, just below the haystack. We will *not* be climbing the haystack. Please bring lunch to eat at the viewpoint - we will not have time to stop for food in North Bend along the way.
- The schedule aims for a 1 hour 45 minute descent (it's faster going down), with about 30 minutes of padding time at the end.

Additional notes:
- We will have lunch at the top. You must bring your own food; we will not have time to stop in North Bend to buy food.
- The date is subject to weather. If rain is in the forecast, we will postpone the hike to a day when it is not raining.

You can reach the start point from downtown Seattle by riding Sound Transit bus #554. Our plan is to begin walking to the 208 bus stop as soon as the 554 bus arrives. In the event that the 554 is late, we will wait for you, even if it means missing the 208 bus (if that happens, we will change destinations and hike Tiger Mountain, rather than Mt. Si). So, you can ride the 554 to the meetup with confidence and know that the group will be there when you arrive.

This is an easier alternative to Eric's Mt Si hike. It will still be reasonably strenuous.

Today, we will learn how to hike Little Si using the regular transit system, without Trailhead Direct. Compared to Trailhead Direct, the trip takes a bit longer, but it's available all year round, plus we get to walk an additional "trail to the trail" that the Trailhead Direct bus skips over.

We will meet at the corner of Rainier and Sunset, in front of Issaquah City Hall, and walk together two blocks to the bus stop to catch route 208 to North Bend. After getting off the bus, we will walk the Snoqualmie Valley Trail, followed by a short stretch of road, to the Little Si trailhead. From there, we will go directly up the Little Si trail. We'll break for lunch on Little Si.

On the way down, if there is enough time, we'll go up and around the Boulder Garden loop. The north leg of the Boulder Garden loop gives a taste of what the old Mt. Si trail is like, and takes us back up to the elevation of Little Si again. We'll continue around the loop, down to the Little Si trailhead, then back to North Bend.

Schedule:
If not taking the 554 bus, meet in front of Issaquah City hall - 9 AM
Start walking to 208 bus stop as soon as 554 bus arrives at 9am
Bus 208 departs - 9:08 AM
Arrive North Bend - 9:45 AM
Arrive Little Si trailhead - 10:30 AM
Begin ascent - 10:45 AM
Arrive Little Si for lunch break - 12:15 PM
Begin descent - 1 PM
Arrive Little Si trailhead - 3:30 PM
Arrive North Bend - 4:30 PM
Bus departs - 4:45 PM
Return to Issaquah - 5:15 PM

Because route 208 runs only approximately every two hours, we do ask that participants only sign up if capable of following the above schedule. We will have other Mt. Si area hikes later in the season, once Trailhead Direct starts running.

Details about the pace:
- The walk from the bus stop to the Little Si Trailhead is 2.2 miles one way, and nearly flat. The schedule assumes a 3 mph walking pace for this section.
- The schedule allows for a 15-minute pause at the Little Si trailhead to use the restroom.
- From the Little Si Trailhead to Little Si is 1.9 miles of uphill trail, with approximately 1300 feet of elevation gain. The schedule assumes about 1.3 mph on the way up.
- The schedule allows for 45 minutes of break time at Little Si. Please bring lunch - we will not have time to stop for food in North Bend along the way.
- On the way back, including the Boulder Garden loop, from Little Si to the trailhead is 2.9 miles with 700 ft elevation gain.
- The total is 9.2 miles, 2000 ft elevation gain. For comparison, Eric's hike using the old Si trail is 11.8 mi, 3500 ft elevation gain.

Additional notes:
- We will have lunch at the top. You must bring your own food; we will not have time to stop in North Bend to buy food.
- Bring sufficient water for over 9 miles.
- The date is subject to weather. If rain is in the forecast, we will postpone the hike to a day when it is not raining.
- There won't be any slack in the start time to arrive late, as we need to catch the 208 bus (with the exception below in case the 554 is late).

You can reach the start point from downtown Seattle by riding Sound Transit bus 554. Our plan is to begin walking to the 208 bus stop as soon as the 554 bus arrives. In the event that the 554 is late, we will wait for you, even if it means missing the 208 bus (if that happens, we will change destinations and hike in the West Tiger area, rather than Mt. Si). So, you can ride the 554 to the meetup with confidence and know that the group will be there when you arrive.